counterprotest
noun
coun·ter·pro·test
ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌprō-ˌtest 
variants
or counter-protest
plural counterprotests or counter-protests
: a protest staged to counter or oppose another protest
A rally … got heated Saturday afternoon. Police stepped in to help de-escalate tensions after a counterprotest emerged …—
Colleen MacDonald
Colleen MacDonald
counterprotester
noun
or counter-protester
plural counterprotesters or counter-protesters
Standing near the back of the crowd at yesterday's rally were about a dozen counterprotesters …
—Sue Young Wilson
Sue Young Wilson
Nazis may still march, but they are inevitably outnumbered by counter-protesters.
—Ellis Cose
Ellis Cose
Examples of counterprotest in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Meanwhile, the government won a Supreme Court battle Friday so that asylum-seekers could continue being housed at a hotel in Epping, northeast of London, a site that has sparked numerous protests and counterprotests.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 30 Aug. 2025
The arrests outside Parliament came amid what is expected to be a busy weekend of demonstrations in London as the war in Gaza and concerns about immigration spur protests and counterprotests across the United Kingdom.
—Danica Kirka, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2025
His group supported the Apopka event with de-escalators — people trained to help reduce the intensity of a situation — in the event of counterprotests.
—Kairi Lowery, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2025
What about counterprotests? Counterprotests should receive the same rights as protests, and the two should be allowed within sight and sound of the other, but antagonistic groups should be separated.
—Hannah Hudnall, IndyStar, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterprotest
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Alexander Smith, NBC news, 30 Aug. 2025
The arrests outside Parliament came amid what is expected to be a busy weekend of demonstrations in London as the war in Gaza and concerns about immigration spur protests and counterprotests across the United Kingdom.
—Danica Kirka, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2025
His group supported the Apopka event with de-escalators — people trained to help reduce the intensity of a situation — in the event of counterprotests.
—Kairi Lowery, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2025
What about counterprotests? Counterprotests should receive the same rights as protests, and the two should be allowed within sight and sound of the other, but antagonistic groups should be separated.
—Hannah Hudnall, IndyStar, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterprotest
Cite this Entry
“Counterprotest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterprotest. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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